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Anxiety

Anxiety is the most common mental health condition in Australia. Share your own story and learn about other member’s experiences with anxiety.

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BeyondBlue Hi! Check out this post if you're not sure how to start
  • replies: 0

Hi there and welcome to the Anxiety section of the Forums First of all, thank you so much for joining us here. We think it’s amazing that you’ve taken this step to getting support and learning from this Community. You are very welcome here and we are... View more

Hi there and welcome to the Anxiety section of the Forums First of all, thank you so much for joining us here. We think it’s amazing that you’ve taken this step to getting support and learning from this Community. You are very welcome here and we are really interested in what you might want to add to these conversations. We get it, having anxiety makes it hard to share in a public place. Remember, this is anonymous and the Beyond Blue team are here to help if you need it This section is for people who are experiencing anxiety in some form in their lives. This might be in social settings, at work, or just in the day to day. You don’t need a diagnosis to post here. If it feels like the right spot for your post, go right ahead! We know that feeling anxious can make it hard to reach out so we want you to know that getting this far is amazing and a great start. A few tips for getting the most out of this section: Get involved when you can! Posting and replying is the heartbeat of this community and you DO have something worthwhile to share (when you’re ready ) Every experience is different. There is no competition here. We know how challenging anxiety can be and how it comes in all shapes and sizes. What you are experiencing will be respected and supported here. Trust yourself! You are the expert in your experience. This community works because people like you share what has worked for you. Thank you for getting involved and taking a look. We can’t wait to hear from you! Beyond Blue

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lostlookingforlove Sporting nerves
  • replies: 3

This is my first time posting and my first time playing with a team, in over five years. This is due to anxiety. We have our grand final and im starting to feel the nerves kicking in as i dont want to stuff up and ruin it for my team. I know that if ... View more

This is my first time posting and my first time playing with a team, in over five years. This is due to anxiety. We have our grand final and im starting to feel the nerves kicking in as i dont want to stuff up and ruin it for my team. I know that if i do i will be out of sport for another lengthy period of time. I am just unsure on how to deal with the nerves for this game on sunday, does anyone have advice or tips on how to manage this nervousness and anxiety. i really want to enjoy this game without overriding negative thoughts which i know will impact my performance.

Jada89 Derealisation and depersonalisation
  • replies: 6

Hey guys I have been suffering from dp/dr for over 10 years now. I am 26 and have recently found out what it is. I'm happy that I now know I'm not going crazy and many people suffer from this as it's anxiety and trauma related. I just want to get rid... View more

Hey guys I have been suffering from dp/dr for over 10 years now. I am 26 and have recently found out what it is. I'm happy that I now know I'm not going crazy and many people suffer from this as it's anxiety and trauma related. I just want to get rid of this and feel normal again. Would like to talk to people who both suffer from this and who have recovered to try and set me free of this. It restricts me in so many day to day things. Thanks

Jamielee88 Am i normal
  • replies: 16

This is my first post i suffer from sereve anxiety n sevre panic attacks. I cry all the time n question life. Ive got a fear of dying. I dont feel normal anymore. I just wanna feel noral again n do things i use to. I feel useless that i cant do stuff... View more

This is my first post i suffer from sereve anxiety n sevre panic attacks. I cry all the time n question life. Ive got a fear of dying. I dont feel normal anymore. I just wanna feel noral again n do things i use to. I feel useless that i cant do stuff that i use to cause im scared. I just dont know what to do anymore. Its like no one seems to understand. I find when i try go out to shops it feels like everyones just looking at me n judging me. My body is in constant pain both phyiscally n enotionally. Im scared to be left by my self. I just wanna feel good about myself again like i did before. I wake up in tears when i sleep. I have my first phycologist appointment on thursday wich making me more nervous n anxious

Ree85 Recent anxiety attack
  • replies: 15

4 weeks ago I had my first massive anxiety attack. I have always worried and over thought about things but this particular time really hit me hard. i was wondering what are some way that everyone copes with anxiety. I'm also looking for ppl who are g... View more

4 weeks ago I had my first massive anxiety attack. I have always worried and over thought about things but this particular time really hit me hard. i was wondering what are some way that everyone copes with anxiety. I'm also looking for ppl who are going through a similar thing to talk to more often I'm seeing a therapist which I'm due for my second apt this week. Some days are great where others days are just horrible. My husband doesn't understand at all

Reaperbird Anxiety share-space
  • replies: 11

Hey guys I wanted to start a thread where we can all share and vent out any quirks, habits, routines and/or feelings we have when faced with anxiety or panic-attacks. I feel it might be a positive way to share our experiences amongst ourselves and ga... View more

Hey guys I wanted to start a thread where we can all share and vent out any quirks, habits, routines and/or feelings we have when faced with anxiety or panic-attacks. I feel it might be a positive way to share our experiences amongst ourselves and gain some comfort in knowing we aren't alone in this. Well I'll start with a few of mine, and if you like, feel free to add your own in the comments! ^_^ - Mentally repeating to myself what I'm going to say to the shop cashier while waiting in line. - Keeping all doors/windows closed and locked. Re-checking in case I missed one. - Occasionally covering household mirrors with sheets/towels so no one can 'watch' me. - Spacing out when around large crowds of people, or when there's a lot of noise. - Replying 'you too' when people ask 'how are you?' - Needing to know every tiny detail about what's going on before I can relax. Always having a plan B. - Vaguely answering any questions about myself or my interests. - Asking friends/family if they can order for me. - Using the self-serve or shopping online to avoid contact with other people. - Getting awkward and embarrassed when complimented. - Sometimes letting phone calls go to message-bank instead of answering. - Never changing my fashion/hair style so I don't draw attention to myself. - Getting myself lost during a panic-attack, then getting in to more of a panic about being lost. - Either answering people too quickly, or too late. - Using body language and gestures instead of speaking because I stutter a lot.

Robert29 Can you have OCD without the thoughts being disturbing?
  • replies: 3

Hi all, Can you have OCD without the thoughts being disturbing? Everything I read online and even on here describes OCD as intrusive disturbing thoughts about sex, violence etc. I have intrusive thoughts but they are not disturbing. I just analyze sp... View more

Hi all, Can you have OCD without the thoughts being disturbing? Everything I read online and even on here describes OCD as intrusive disturbing thoughts about sex, violence etc. I have intrusive thoughts but they are not disturbing. I just analyze specific topics to the point of almost making myself crazy. The reason I think it is OCD is when I am obsessing about a specific topic my mind thinks SO strongly that if I can just find the right answer or description online my obsession will go away. and it does work but only temporarily. For example I recently thought I needed to grow up in certain areas of my life and because I started obsessing about this I researched exactly what growing up means online for literally months until I found an answer that would satisfy my brain. I would find an article or description that would make me happy for a few days max and then I would start doubting again. I never found an answer that lasted the only reason I ever stopped obsessing about what growing up means and how I can grow up myself is because I started obsessing about a different topic. And so the pain restarts. Right now my obsession is wether I have, depression, anxiety or OCD. My brain thinks if I found out which one I have it will be ok I just need to know which one it is. I understand it could be all 3 but my mind doesn't want to know that it wants a specific answer. I can get on with normal life most days but I have this constant over analysing going on in my head constantly. I can distract myself temporarily but it always comes back. Sometimes I go to bed feeling completely fine and then I wake up the next day and BANG back to square one. Any help or suggestions will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Rob

OCD_Me OCD and Intrusive Thoughts
  • replies: 37

Hi All ~ this is my 1st post *eek* So, my background is... As a small child I used to repeat sayings over and over in my head to make sure 'bad things' didn't happen, they would always have to be repeated a certain number of times etc etc. I had on a... View more

Hi All ~ this is my 1st post *eek* So, my background is... As a small child I used to repeat sayings over and over in my head to make sure 'bad things' didn't happen, they would always have to be repeated a certain number of times etc etc. I had on and off periods of anxiety over the coming years and was finally diagnosed 17 years ago, at the age of 20 with OCD and GAD, this was after being house bound for around 3 months with debilitating panic attacks. I was prescribed a medication that got me out and about and back to 'normal'. I still take this today. Over the past 17 years I have functioned quite well and the majority of people would see me as a well adjusted, happy, carefree woman (if they only knew!). Anxiety and OCD have always been there just bubbling away under the surface. 6 months ago after being under some stress I started having palpitations and a handful of panic attacks. I haven't really been myself since then. I have a great GP who has referred my to a psychologist, but I can't see her for another fortnight. And also a psychiatrist to confirm the original diagnosis from 17 years ago to make sure we are undertaking the right treatment. I can cope ok with the anxiety and no longer truly fear panic attacks which seems to keep them at bay. What I truly struggle with and it breaks my heart, are the intrusive thoughts. They are violent and are directed toward the person that means the most to me, my son. Logically I understand all about intrusive thoughts... I understand that they are automatic, that they mean nothing, that anxiety picks on the ones we love the most etc. But they still hurt and frighten me so much. I know that I should just ignore them and let them be, but being a true Obsessive that little thought is always in the background saying 'What if" What if you are truly capable of this. What if you snap and lose your mind. What if, what if, what if. It's at the point where I don't feel comfortable being too close to my son even though I know that's exactly what I should be doing to let my mind know that I have no fear of these annoying, upsetting thoughts. Thanks for letting me share my story and vent my worries

Anxt16 Long time sufferer first time poster
  • replies: 7

Hi,I have had moderate anxiety for about 7 years. I had my triggers but thought I had learnt to deal with it. I'm now in what is my first healthy relationship, approaching 1 year, and I am overwhelmed with anxiety about it. We live together and until... View more

Hi,I have had moderate anxiety for about 7 years. I had my triggers but thought I had learnt to deal with it. I'm now in what is my first healthy relationship, approaching 1 year, and I am overwhelmed with anxiety about it. We live together and until a few weeks ago I was completely happy. I have been seeing a psych, have medication which I have suddenly been using lately and have just started anti depression/anxiety meds. I keep worrying about tough times ahead in our relationship and am starting to think it's best to get out now. However, I love him, it's the first time in over 10 years I've met someone I really enjoy being with. I think some standard relationship cracks are starting to show and we're also going on a round the world trip in December (I am terrified of travel). I assume these factors, along with my only other relationship being quite dysfunctional, are causing my anxiety but it is out of control. He is starting to get frustrated and psychologically effected by my behaviour so I'm sabotaging our relationship with my worry. I have a lot of insight, I'm doing the right things, but I truly feel like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. I'm terrified and so so sad.Not sure what anyone can do or say right now - just feeling hopeless.

Jemz14 Severe Dental Fear!!!!!
  • replies: 14

HiI haven't posted in a long time... i have severe anxiety issues. I had a huge issue with getting a wisdom tooth out about 18 months ago and now i have to get another one out.I am actually genuinely concerned i will die.... its like i fear choking s... View more

HiI haven't posted in a long time... i have severe anxiety issues. I had a huge issue with getting a wisdom tooth out about 18 months ago and now i have to get another one out.I am actually genuinely concerned i will die.... its like i fear choking stopping breathing and anything else in between.I am going back 2 the same dentist who did my last extraction he was actually the second dentist 2 complete the one extraction. The first time i sat through over half an hour or a dentist trying to get the wisdom tooth out, the tooth cracked and i freaked out and literally sat up and ran. The root was left in my mouth and made me very sick and i was in excruciating pain. I ended up at my current dentist and he managed to get the root of the tooth out.My dentist says this extraction is 100% easier than the last one but i am still terrified. What if for some reason choke on something? Or have a bad reaction 2 the local..... I have been constantly looking up stuff on wisdom extractions and even seen some stories of people dying. However i know the only deaths were all due 2 complications of general anesthesia and i am getting this done in the chair.Is my fear of dying at the dentist irrational? How can i get through this i have over a week till the appointment and i am worried my anxiety will drive me 2 back out of this in the mean time..... Any helpful advice would be great thanks

Moonstruck Anxiety or Depression? Or can you have both?
  • replies: 27

I just did the Mind Spot quiz for depression and came up moderately severe. My main hurdle is anxiety, at times blitzing into panic attacks, resulting in insomnia, worry, obsessive thinking, occasional paranoid thoughts e.g. neighbours are watching m... View more

I just did the Mind Spot quiz for depression and came up moderately severe. My main hurdle is anxiety, at times blitzing into panic attacks, resulting in insomnia, worry, obsessive thinking, occasional paranoid thoughts e.g. neighbours are watching me, talking about me - going overboard in trying to please people so they won't hurt, dislike or abandon me......over the past 2 months I had a sort of double-whammy in losing two prominent, long-standing and very precious people in my life - one a friend, the other a romantic interest/love partner......a couple of weeks apart. I hadn't begun to work my way through the first, when delivered the second blow! some years back I had a similar condition to deal with (I couldn't deal with it though - it left me damaged and scarred)...when about 4 major stressors occurred in the space of a few years.....you know that list of Top 10 things - Major Life Losses.....well I had about 4 of those...no time to recover from one, when another one happened! It resulted in mild agoraphobia from fear of "what will happen to me next?" much safer to stay at home. I had no time to heal, no time to rest, no treatment - I had two children and a job which became the next thing to lose....then I became a "job seeker" on Centrelink. No one helped me. At least now its only been 2 losses, but I'm getting lower and lower - sort of a combination of my usual anxiety, mixed with a deep sadness and sense of great loss . I wait for the day to pass until it's dark and I feel sort of "safer"like nothing else bad can happen - the day is nearly over. I am frightened I will become that messed up woman I was years ago when the list of stressors/losses happened one after another. I relied on alcohol - now I'm not allowed to drink for health reasons, so no soothing glass of wine for me. GP won't prescribe meds.....only something for sleep which I have to ration myself so as not to give the impression I am abusing them. How can I cope better this time around and not end up the depressed human being I was back then?. At least this time its only 2 major blows - I feel crying is a good release for me....but what if someone drops in and sees me? My facade is too good - they wouldn't understand.